Supports for mobile cranes



y 1961 E. B. NICKLES ET AL 2,985,318

SUPPORTS FOR MOBILE CRANES Filed July 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS EDWARD B. N IOKLES JOHN R WILLIAMS BY M 56% AGENT y 1951 E. B. NICKLES ET AL 2,985,318

SUPPORTS FOR MOBILE CRANES Filed July 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWARD B. NICKLES JOHN R. WILLIAMS BY M Z/ZWMQL AGENT United States Patent SUPPORTS FOR MOBILE CRANES Edward B. Nickles and John R. Williams, Manitowoc, Wis., assignors to Manitowoc Engineering Corp., Manitowoc, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed July 20, 1956, Ser. No. 599,133

16 Claims. (Cl. 212145) This invention relates to improved supports for increas ing the stability of mobile cranes and one of the objects of the invention is to provide suitable counterweight structure for the crane which not only enables the crane to lift over the rear portion of a vehicle chassis which supports the mobile crane but also provides sufficient counterweight to assure successful lateral lifting over the,

side portions of the vehicle chassis.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an outrigger device for a mobile crane which will adequately support the crane against tipping.

An additional object of this invention is detachable auxiliary means to stiffen the vehicle frame and prevent torsional strains'therein without materially increasing the size and, consequently, the weight of the frame members of the vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a support for a crane without increasing the height of the crane mounting.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in' which:

Figure 1 shows a truck mounted crane equipped with the present invention, and t r 1 g v Figure 2 is an exploded view of the truck chassis and outrigger. l 1 Kit Referringnow to the drawing wherein there is illusrated a truck mounted crane comprising a crane, 12, V mounted upon a truck chassis 14. The crane 12 includes to provide 1 a the usualcab 16, boom 18, boom hoist rigging 20, and

hoisting line 22.

Referring now to Figure 2 which shows the truck mounted crane 10 in greater detail, it will be seen that,

the chassis 14 comprises longitudinal primary support means including'gene'rally longitudinally extending frame members '24, and'a pair of spaced substantially transversely extending frame members 26 and 28. Intermediate theframe members 26 and 28 there .is provided a pair ofsubstantially transversely extending members 30 and 32 which include end portions 34 extending out-' wardly' from the longitudinal members'24 and a center portion 36, extending between the longitudinal members 7 24. Each of'thet-portions 34 and 36 is securely welded to the longitudinal-members 24 to form a rigid framework which defines the primary support structure for the crane 12. Cap bars 40 may be provided to adjust the height-of the transverse members 30 and 32 to that of the upper surface 38. of the longitudinal members 24 to insure a uniform supporting surface at a location on the.

support structure for ring gear 42, on which the crane 12 is mounted. I j

The end portions of the transverse frame members 26 and28 are provided with horizontal slots 44 and 46 and with vertical holes to receive mounting pins 48 and 50. The extremities of the end portions 34 of the memhers-30 and 32 are reduced in cross section for a purpose which will presently appear.

There is further provided-auxiliary or secondary sup- I port means which includes an additional generally longi tudinally extending side frame member 52 which includes a rigid beam 54 having connecting links 56 and '58 adjacent its ends. While only one side frame member 52 is shown, it will be understood that a similar side' 1 frame will be provided for each side of the truck mounted a crane 10. The connecting links 56 and 58 include tongue portions 60 and 62 adapted to fit snugly in the slots 44 and 46 in the frame members 26 and 28.

adapted to receive a flange of theitransverse f-rame'rnemhers 26 and 28. Vertical holes 66 and 68 are provided I in the tongue portions 60 and 62 to receive the mounting pins 48 and 50 to firmly hold the side frame member 52 thereon. In this way the side frame members 52 are readily removably rigidly connected at vertically spaced locations to'the adjacent end portions of the transverse frame members 26 and 28. Stirrups 70 and 72 are attached to thebeam 54 of the side frame member 52 and are adapted to receive the reduced end portions 34 of the transverselmembers 30 and 32. The stirrups 70, 72 include internal flat plate members 71 which underlie, .and-

providea snugly fitting socket for, the reduced end portions 34 of the transverse members 30 and 32. Outrigger feet 74 and 76 are pivotally mounted on the connecting links 56 and '58' of the rigid beam 54 by hinge pins .78 and 80, and are held against rotation by locking pins 82 i and 84, inserted in holes provided in flanges on the feet 74 and 76 and in corresponding holes in the connecting links 56 and 5 8. By withdrawing pins 82 and 84 the feet '74 and 76 may be swung parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck mounted crane 10 and locked in that positionby placing the locking pins 82 and 84 in alternate holes 86 and 88, thus providing a retracted traveling position.f It'will be understood that with the side chassis 14 secured in place the members form the integrated rigid framework which supports the crane 12, and that the auxiliary support means supports the end portions .34 of the transverse members 30 and '32 through the stirrups 70 and 72 carried by the beam 54 of the frame members. '52 in a manner which will prevent any torsionallstrain on the longitudinal members 24 during the time when:

thecrane 12 is lifting a load from the side of the truck. Further, as illustrated more clearly in Figure 1, the integrated rigid framework may be ground supported by pro- I viding'suitable blocking 92, 94 under the outrigger feet 74 "and 76 which are carried by the side frame members 52. i

Boom stop cables 96 permit the boom 18 to be raised almost vertically without danger of tipping over backwards whereby the hoisting line 22 may be engagedin a lifting ring provided on the side frame members 52 1 so that the crane 12 may be used to remove its own sid'e frameinembers 5-2 to conveniently reduce the weight of the vehicle for highway travel.

beyond said longitudinal members, said longitudinal andintermediate transverse members being secured together to form anrintegrated frame, the top surfaces of said. longitudinal and intermediate transverse members lying Patented May 23, 1961 V In addition, 7 each of the links 56 and 58'is provided with a slot 64 a said longitudinal and intermediate transverse members, and longitudinal side frames removably connected to theends of said transverse members,' said. side frames. including supporting outrigger feet located-at points spaced longitudinally from. said transverse beam lying i in said plane.-

2. A support for a crane as defined in claim '1 wherein said outrigger. feet. are pivotally mounted on a vertical axis.

32-.A mobile crane .unit including a cranerotatably supported by a chassis structure, said chassis structure beingformed from interconnected frame members which a define azlocation on which said crane is rotatably mounted, saidframe members being of adequate strength to support the deadweight load. of said crane during movement of said unit while being .of inadequate strength to sup-. port'the full working loadthereof, and demountable side frames attachedto the ends of certain of said frame members alo ng each side of. said chassis structure to increasesthe-strength of said location .to enable said chassis structure tov support the full working load of the crane,

said side frames each being provided with outrigger elementsfor resting engagementwith supporting surfaces to distribute aportion of the Working load of said crane thereto..

4; A mobile crane unit including a crane rotatably.

strength to support thedead weight load of said crane. during generally horizontal movement of said unit While being of inadequate strength to support the full working load thereof, and demountable side frames attached to the ends .of the frame members defining said location along each side of said chassis structure to increase the strength of said'chassis structure to enable the same to support. the full working load of said crane, said side frameseach being provided with outwardly swingable elements for resting engagement with supporting surfaces to distribute a portion of the working load of said crane there to. v

5. A: mobile crane unit including a crane. rotatably supported by a mobile chassis structure, said chassis structure including a frame defining a location on which said crane :is rotatably mounted, said frame being of adquate strengthto support the dead weight load of said crane during'movernent of said unit while being of inadequate; strengthto support the full working load.thereof,.and..

demountable side frames ,attached to opposite sides :of

said frame to increase the strength of said location .to enable said chassis structure to support .the full working load of said crane,'said side ,frames each being provided with outrigger elements for resting engagement .with supporting surfaces .to distributea portion of the working.

load .of said crane thereto.

6. In combination, a crane and support structure having a ring rotatably mounted the crane thereon, said support structure comprising aplurality of generally longitudinallyand transversely -extendingbeamsrintercona nected to define a frame, said longitudinalbeamsand. at least one of the transverse beams underlying and sup-. porting the ring said transverse beams extending outwardly from adjacent said ring and terminating in end portions disposed beyond the longitudinal .beams, an. additionallongitudinal member. disposed along opposite.

sides of said frame in outwardly spaced relationship relax tive-to the adjacent longitudinal beam, and connectors for readily removably connecting the additional longi-.

tudinal members at spaced locations to the adjacent end. portions of'each of the transverse beams to defineza sub stantial auxiliary supporttherefor.

7. Thesupport-structure for acrane as set forth-in 1;

claim 6- wherein said additional.longitudinaL-memhersin;

clude. ground supported outrigger. feet located at, points...

spaced longitudinally from said transverse beam underlying said ring.

8. A mobile crane assembly comprising, in combination, a crane and support structure therefor, said support structure including a vehicle chassishaving elongated interconnected generally longitudinally and transversely extending frame..members, the" upper.surfaces... of said longitudinal frame members and at leastone of said transverse frame members lying in a common plane, a ring disposed above plane and "secured tothe frame members disposed thereinfor supporting the crane, said transverse frame members extending outwardlyrelative to the longitudinal frame membersand terminating in end portions disposed in outwardly spaced relationship relative thereto, an additional generally longitudinally disposed member extending along opposite sides of said chassis between the adjacent end portions of the trans-. versemembers in outwardly spaced relationship to the adjacent longitudinal. frame member, and connectors for readily rigidly-removably connecting .the additional longitudin'al members at vertically spaced; locations. to the adjacent end-portions of each of the transverse.- frame members to definea substantial auxiliary supporttherefor. i

9. The mobile crane assembly as set forthin clai1n8 wherein said additional longitudinal members include ground supported outrigger feet located at points'spaced longitudinally from, said transverse. member lying in said plane. V 1 0. Structure forsupporting a crane at .a location thereon, said structure including interconnected, genmay. longitudinally and substantially. transversely. ex-

tending elongated frame members disposed .in underlying relationship relative to the location, an additional .gen-. erally longitudinally extending elongatedmember dis-i posed along opposite sides of said structure in spaced relationship to the location and the adjacent longitudinally extending frame member,.and connectors for readily removably connectingthe additional. members at spacedlocations to the adjacent end portions of each of the transversely extending frame members .to define: a, sub-.

at a location thereon, said structure includinggenerally.

longitudinally extending. elongated frame. members, a

plurality of substantially transversely extending elongated frame members interconnected with the longitudinally extending frame members, said longitudinally and at least one of the transversely extending frame members being disposed in underlying relationship relative to. thecrane supporting location," an additional generally longitudinally extending elongated member disposed along opposite sides of said structure in outwardly spaced relationship to the crane supporting location and the adjacent longitudinally extending frame member, and connectors for readily -removably' rigidly connecting the additional members at spacedlocations to the end portions of each of the adjacent transversely extending frame members to define a substantial auxiliary support therefor,

13. Themobile structure for supporting a crane assembly as set forth in claim 12 together with ground engaging outrigger supports carried by said additional members at positions thereon which are longitudinally spaced the said underlying transversely extending frame member.

14. The mobile'structure for supporting a crane assemblyas set forth in claim 12. wherein saidlocation is defined by a ring-like rnemben:

p rtge al yla ra y ou wa d ei e din mama bers, said frame being of ,adeguatestrength suppo the dead Weight load of a crane while being of inadequate strength to support a working load thereof, a demountable side frame member disposed along opposite sides of the frame in spaced relationship thereto, and connectors for readily removably attaching the side frame members at spaced locations to each of the generally laterally outwardly extending frame members to substantially increase the strength of the location on the structure to enable the frame to support a working load of a crane.

16. A mobile crane assembly including a crane and structure for supporting the crane, said structure including a chassis having a location thereon whereat said crane is rotatably mounted, said chassis comprising a frame including spaced apart generally laterally outwardly extending frame members, said frame being of adequate strength to support the dead weight load of said crane during movement of said assembly while being of inadequate strength to support a working load thereof, a dernountable side frame member disposed along opposite sides of the frame in spaced relationship thereto,

and connectors for readily removably attaching the side frame members at spaced locations to adjacent end portions of each of the generally laterally outwardly extending frame members to increase the strength of said location to enable the frame to support a working load of the crane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 330,870 Case Nov. 24, 1885 845,770 Ferris et al Mar. 5, 1907 1,432,378 Bailly Oct. 17, 1922 1,512,472 Leipert Oct. 21, 1924 2,074,158 A very Mar. 16, 1937 2,209,392 Edwards July 30, 1940 2,365,169 Billings Dec. 19, 1944 2,400,803 Barnhart May 21, 1946 2,653,829 Sheehan Sept. 29, 1953 2,741,489 Bigge Apr. 10, 1956 2,812,192 Cole Nov. 5, 1957 

